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Next Game: Away At Bishop Stortford In The FA Cup On Saturday 28 September at 3.00pm

Friday, November 17, 2023

Hereford a step closer to upgrading floodlights at Edgar Street

The floodlights at Edgar Street could be being upgraded
Hereford FC appear to be one step closer to upgrading to LED floodlights at Edgar Street.

Herefordshire Council, the stadium's landlord, has given the club permission to do so.

Sarah Jowett, the strategic assets delivery director at the council, said the works will be entirely within the site and there will be no impact on passing traffic or pedestrians and the club are obtaining external funding and the installation will substantially improve the club's sustainability and reduce energy costs.

She also said the consent is subject to all necessary consents, drawings and complying with all health and safety legislation and the tenant’s contractor will be required to provide evidence of public liability insurance.

She said there will also be no cost to the council and the value of the council’s reversionary interest will not be disadvantaged – effectively meaning it won't affect the value of the site.

She said the club must also obtain the consent and co-operation of the telecoms operators who use the floodlights to house masts.

ALSO READ: The History Of Hereford's Floodlights

It's been more than a year since Bulls News first reported the club was considering upgrading the floodlights but that, and other improvements around the ground, are dependent on the ground's owner granting the club a longer lease.

The current situation is that the current lease is only until 2030. While that might seem a long time, it will hamper the club if they try to apply for grants for improvement to things such as the floodlights.

While the floodlights passed a test earlier this year meaning they are up to scratch for the National League North, the club have been looking at upgrading them.

Former chairman Jon Hale, during his second tenure at the helm, said it was being looked at and, over the summer, his successor Chris Ammonds said it wasn't a speedy process but discussions were being had with funders.

He said: "It's very much work in progress. We know we need to improve them. I can't give you a timescale.

"If you are looking for grant funding you have to go down the route of getting three quotes. It's never a speedy process. It's very much something we know we're aware of and we need to move forward with."

While there is nothing to suggest the landlord, Herefordshire Council, wouldn't agree to a longer lease, nothing has yet been signed. It has recently agreed to the club installing better broadband facilities and temporarily using the Blackfriars End to improve the experience for away supporters.

The last public mention of talks between the club and council was in February when it was said Ross Cook, corporate director at Herefordshire Council, showed "a genuine mutual appetite to get things done".

The football club was also invited to "submit a proposal for a club and community facility at the Blackfriars End, which would provide additional revenue streams in years to come for Hereford FC to be invested back into the club".

The club also said the council is "open to conversations about other areas of the ground that could, one day, be in need of upgrade or refurbishment".

Ammonds was meant to be sitting down with the council in October to talk about the lease.

He's under no illusion as to what his job is, telling Bulls News last month: "It'll be my job to say to them listen, if we can get this lease extended then we have some real opportunities out there to improve the facilities here at Edgar Street and help the financial aspect of the club as well."